hing quite as disagreeable!

She looked very fierce as she spoke, while Akbar listened with grieved
attention. In fact, what Bija would have done, had Head-nurse not had
her in her arms cossetting her, became quite a subject of conversation
between the two children, Bija sitting demurely threading beads and
inventing new methods of just punishment, and the Heir-to-Empire lolling
on the floor pretending to sharpen his tinfoil sword, and interposing
objections such as, "But you couldn't do _that_, Bija, you're not
_strong_ enough," or "_That_ wouldn't be fair, Bija, for he only hurt
you a little, you know." For Akbar was born with a sense of fair-play
and justice which never forsook him, because he always gave _it_ fair
play.

So the idea of somehow getting the better of Yakoob became a fixed one
in the little lad's mind until an opportunity for action came to him.

It was about a month afterwards, on the "Festival of Record"; that is to
say, the day when good Mohammedans pray for guidance during the coming
year, and believe that God's Angel, accompanied by the spirits of their
dead ancestors, appears on earth to judge the record of the past year,
and write on the forehead of each man and woman and child what reward or
punishment is deserved in the next. In the evening, thousands of little
lamps are lit, so that there shall be no darkness anywhere, but all
things shall be made manifest, and when the little platters of sweets
and food are set out lest any of the spirits, who come to plead for
their descendants, should feel hungry, it is a very solemn affair; but
the day is generally spent in amusement.

So Princess Sultanum arranged an entertainment, and, as usual, there was
to be a bout of wrestling between her son and some little companions,
amongst them the Heir-to-Empire. Head-nurse was furious, of course. The
show was invented, she declared, to disgrace the Mighty-in-Pomp, the
Pole-star of the Universe, etc., etc.

Akbar himself took it very complacently and allowed himself to be
undressed and oiled all over, so as to make a grip very hard; for these
are the Indian customs. And a very sturdy specimen he looked as he stood
up and crossed his arms and then slapped himself with resounding slaps
before crossing them again; also after Indian fashion, for so much he
had learned of wrestling.

Then the signal was given, and Yakoob, as was his wont, began, in
imitation of grown-up wrestlers, to steal an advance on his a